PERGAMON Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17 (1999) 203214

Reservoir potential of carbonate rocks in the Kutai Basin region,

East Kalimantan, Indonesia
H. Alam a, *, D.W. Paterson b, N. Syarifuddin a, I. Busono a, S.G. Corbin a
a
Exploration Department, VICO, Indonesia
b
Lasmo Indonesia Ltd, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav. C11-14, Jakarta, 12940, Indonesia
Received 26 December 1997; accepted 12 August 1998

Abstract

Fifteen percent of the exploration wells drilled in the Kutai Basin region were targeted for stratigraphic play-types. Carbonate
reservoirs comprise almost 70% of the objectives in these stratigraphic plays. There was need for a better understanding of the
carbonate reservoir potential in the region. Accordingly, this study was carried out. The distribution, depositional environment
as well as factors controlling the quality of carbonate reservoirs are reviewed and analyzed. Carbonate reservoirs in the study
area can be found sparsely throughout the Kutai Basin. Carbonates range in age from Oligocene (Bebulu limestone) to Late
Miocene (Dian limestone). The main constituents of these carbonate build-ups are platy-corals, encrusting red algae and larger
benthonic foraminifera. Most of the carbonates were deposited in a shallow marine environment (inner to middle shelf) during
rises in relative sea level. Highstand system tracts are characterized by well-developed carbonate facies-belts. The carbonate
build-ups generally occur as isolated bedded mounds, from a few feet up to 1000 ft in thickness. The preservation of primary
porosity is generally poor due to diagenetic processes during burial history, particularly the inlling of pores by non-ferroan
calcite cement. The development of secondary porosity is limited, due to the retardation of subsurface uid ow by non-
permeable layers, and the absence of solution eects due to sub-aerial exposure and karstication. Preserved porosities are
mainly present as vugs, best developed in coarse-grained shelf-margin facies, which may not have subsequently been completely
lled by calcite cement. Early hydrocarbon migration may retard the diagenetic processes and preserve the primary carbonate
porosity. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction analysis of 36 limestone samples, and interpretation of

electric logs.
The aim of this project was to evaluate the hydro-
carbon potential of carbonate reservoirs within the
SangaSanga PSC (Production Sharing Contract) area
in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Limestones crop out 2. Regional setting
along the western boundary of the SangaSanga PSC
and signicant thicknesses of limestones were pene- The Kutai Basin is located in East Kalimantan, cov-
trated in a number of wells including, from N to S, ers about 165,000 sq. km, and is one of the deepest of
Tanjung Wira-1 and -2, Citra-1, Buat-1, Semoi-1, the Tertiary basins in Indonesia (containing up to
Raden-1 and -2, and Beblu-1 (Fig. 1). The ages of 12,000 m of Tertiary sediment). The basin is bounded
these carbonates range from Oligo-Miocene (Fig. 3) in by the WNWESE Mangkalihat Ridge to the north
the Beblu-1 well (Bebulu limestone) in the south to the and the WNWESE trending Adang Flexure to the
youngest. Late Miocene (Tanjung Wira and Dian lime- south. These structures separate the Kutai Basin from
stones) to the north. The study included surface map- the Tarakan Basin to the north and the Barito Basin
ping within the SangaSanga PSC, thin section to the south. To the west and north-west, the Kutai
Basin is bounded by the Kuching High, and to the
east the basin extends into the straits of Makassar
* Corresponding author. Fax: 0062 21 523044; e-mail: harry_a@vi- (Fig. 2). The structure of the Kutai Basin is dominated
co.co.id. by a series of NNESSW trending folds and faults

1367-9120/99 $ - see front matter # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 7 4 3 - 9 5 4 7 ( 9 8 ) 0 0 0 4 7 - 6
204 H. Alam et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17 (1999) 203214

Fig. 1. Location map, Kutai Basin, East Kalimantan.

that parallel the arcuate coast line. A series of WNW The source of sediment supply, particularly for the
ESE trending faults is also signicant, especially in the Meratus Trough and the southern Kutai Basin (includ-
southern part of Kutai Basin. ing the Wain sub-basin and Balikpapan Bay), was the
 H. Alam et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17 (1999) 203214 205

Fig. 2. Regional setting of the Kutai Basin in Borneo.

igneous cratonic Schwaner Block to the southwest. syndepositional growth faulting and block faulting,
During the Early Miocene, the Kuching High gradu- and eventually took over as the major provenance.
ally developed, with associated volcanic activity and The continuous regression from the Early Miocene to
206 H. Alam et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17 (1999) 203214

Fig. 3. Stratigraphic columns for the sedimentary basins of Kalimantan (modied from IPA, 1991).

Recent resulted in unstable slopes, developing growth a Late Eocene to Late Oligocene period of basin sag,
faults. Contraction resulted in the inversion of the during which subsidence exceeded sedimentation.
faults to create NNE trending anticlines. During this phase of basin sag, carbonate deposition
In the Late Tertiary, the Meratus Trough was occurred on the structurally stable basin margins,
inverted, resulting in the formation of the Barito and while deep marine shales were deposited in the centre
Asem-Asem basins, separated by the Meratus High. of the basin. This Palaeogene section is now deeply
Because of its position between two stable blocks, the buried and overpressured under the thick Miocene sec-
origin of the Meratus uplift was most likely related to tion.
compressional forces associated with opening of the The Lower Miocene section is composed of shelfal,
Makassar Straits at that time. slope and bathyal sediments and is dominated by
shale. These sediments were deposited to the west of
the SangaSanga PSC and have been largely uplifted
3. Stratigraphic framework and eroded. The Middle Miocene section resulted from
almost continuous eastward progradation, which was
The Kutai Basin was initiated by rifting during contemporaneous with uplift and erosion in the west.
Middle Eocene times. The rift phase was succeeded by This period was marked by an initial outbuilding of
 H. Alam et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17 (1999) 203214 207

Fig. 4. Isopach map of Buat carbonate build-up.

the delta systems over shelfal to slope sediments, estab- back reef and fore-reef facies (Fig. 4). The fore-reef
lishing a new shelf margin under the present day Tunu facies consists mainly of grainstone and packstone
Field, and a shoreline in the Badak to Nilam eld while the core-reef facies (James, 1983) consists mainly
area. After the initial rapid progradation of the delta of boundstone with subordinate grainstone and pack-
systems during earliest Middle Miocene time, an stone, the boundstone indicating the presence of major
aggradation process took over. reef building organisms. The back-reef facies is com-
The Late Miocene was marked by major outbuilding posed mainly of lime mudstone and wackestone, indi-
of the delta systems. Major progradation occurred cating a low energy environment. Limestone
toward the end of the Late Miocene, resulting in a thicknesses range from 40 ft to 525 ft (Buat-1 well),
shift of the shelf margin eastwards into the basin. At with ages ranging from N5 to N8 (Early Miocene).
this stage the shelf margin has prograded to a position Most of the carbonates were deposited in an inner to
approximately under the Sisi Field. This basinward middle shelf environment during a transgressive phase
shift of the shelf margin was associated with a pulse of (Paterson et al., 1996).
renewed structural inversion. The reservoir quality of the limestones is poor, since
there is little porosity or permeability preserved.
Primary porosity is well preserved in the fore-reef
4. Carbonate distribution facies within the grainstone unit, while in the reef-core
and back-reef facies porosity is poorly developed and
4.1. Buat area (Fig. 1) occurs as inter/intraparticle porosity, with some moldic
and shelter porosity types (Choquette and Pray, 1970).
Outcrop studies have shown that seven carbonate ELAN derived porosity and permeability indicate that
lithofacies occur in the southeastern part of the Buat in most of the limestone porosity ranges from 0 to 5%
Syncline: lime mudstone, wackestone, packstone, and permeability ranges from 0.01 to 1.0 md.
grainstone, boundstone, crystalline limestone and dolo- However, thin porous limestone streaks are found in
mitized limestone (Dunham, 1962; Embry and Klovan, most limestone intervals (N5N8), with porosity
1971). Three reef facies were identied from the distri- ranges from 5 to 12%, but no signicant permeability
bution of discrete lateral limestone bodies: core-reef, development was observed (Fig. 5).
208 H. Alam et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17 (1999) 203214

4.2. Raden area cle, dissolution, fractures and solution enlarged

porosities) but reservoir quality of this eld is poor,
The Lowest Miocene limestones in the Raden Field due to the lack of permeability (average permeability
are generally wackestonepackstone with local grain- 0.01 md). Two successful production tests were carried
stone and boundstone horizons. Grains are predomi- out in these wells with signicant production rates
nantly larger foraminifera, coral fragments and red from the fore-reef packstonewackestone facies, with
algae. The matrix and cement are micritic mud and an estimated porosity of 15%.
sparry calcite. Locally dolomite cements are also pre-
sent in small amounts. These limestones were depos- 4.3. Semoi area (Fig. 7)
ited in a high energy, inner-middle shelf environment.
Locally (Raden-2) a low energy inner shelf environ- A 658 ft limestone was penetrated in the Semoi-1
ment (lagoonal setting) is represented. well, but only minor oil shows were recorded. The
Reservoir quality is poor, with porosity ranging Middle Miocene limestones are composed mainly of
from 6 to 12%, and permeability is low 0.010.18 md. mudstone, grading to wackestone/packstone. These are
However, some porous limestone streaks of fore-reef gray to yellowish brown, with varying texture (crystal-
facies occur locally. These limestone streaks have mod- line, chalky, with a micrite matrix). Grains consist of
erate, locally good, porosity development (intraparti- occasional larger foraminifera, algae and coral frag-

Fig. 5. Lithological and geophysical logs of the Buat 01 Well.

 H. Alam et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17 (1999) 203214 209

Fig. 6. Schematic model of the Semoi carbonate build-up.

ments. Porosity is poor to fair with minor moldic por- stage (``A'' limestone) in the Tanjung Wira-01 well
osity. Limestones encountered in the Semoi-1 well consists mainly of bioclastic limestone, described as
were deposited in a low energy of back-reef environ- packstonegrainstone of fore-reef facies. The lithology
ment (Fig. 6). Several carbonate mounds were ident- consists predominantly of coral fragments, larger fora-
ied seismically, and a generic depositional model has minifera, red algae, smaller benthonic foraminifera,
been developed based on this seismic mapping. The minor echinoderms and trace miliolids. The matrix is
reefs are best developed and most successful on the composed mainly of recrystallized micrite and sparry
windward sides of shelves where wind and swell are calcite. The second stage (``B'' limestone) was depos-
consistent (Fig. 6). ited in a low energy back-reef area and comprises
The reservoir potential of the Semoi N8 carbonate argillaceous biomicritic limestone, present in both
interval is poor. ELAN-derived porosities range from Tanjung Wira-01 and Tanjung Wira-02 wells. The
8 to 12% (predominantly moldic porosity) with poor third stage (``C'' limestone) was deposited as a reefal
interconnection (<1.0 md). Trace to minor oil/gas bioclastic limestone, described as packstonegrain-
shows might indicate hydrocarbon migration paths stone. This build-up is present in both wells. It is made
(close to reservoir) or reservoir breaching during uplift. up predominantly of corals, encrusting red algae, lar-
Seismic section line k 8174 indicates some porosity ger foraminifera, common mollusc fragments, indeter-
preservation in the fore reef facies (Fig. 7). minate skeletal fragments, occasional micritic matrix,
sparry calcite and micrite envelopes, and is locally
4.4. Tanjung Wira area (Fig. 8) chalky.
The limestone build-ups were deposited on the inner
The Tanjung Wira reefal complex exhibits three sig- shelf. The growth of these build-ups was controlled by
nicant stages of patch reef growth related to relative the rate of relative sea level rise and fall. If the rate of
sea level uctuations (Paterson et al., 1996). The rst sea level rise increased signicantly, reef growth could
210 H. Alam et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17 (1999) 203214

Fig. 7. Seismic prole of the Semoi carbonate build-up.

 H. Alam et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17 (1999) 203214

Fig. 8. Detail of Seismic prole from line RS-02-93 through the Tanjung Wira 1 and 2 Wells.
211
212 H. Alam et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17 (1999) 203214

Fig. 9. Schematic cross section of the Badak G001B limestone showing channel incisions lled by G001A sand.

not keep up with it and growth ceased, with the sub-

sequent deposition of marine shale. When sea level
dropped carbonate production recommenced with the
development of carbonate build-ups (Corbin et al.,
1996).
In general, the reservoir quality of these limestones
is poor, as indicated by the lack of preserved porosity
and the presence of late-stage carbonate cements that
occluded both primary and secondary porosity. Minor
fracturing is present, but it had no signicant eect on
porosity. Some hydrocarbon (oil and gas) shows were
detected in the lowest carbonate of the Tanjung Wira-
01 well.

4.5. Badak Nilam area (Fig. 9)

Limestones are present in the Middle Miocene G

interval in the Badak and Nilam elds and produced
oil and gas on test from Badak 47. The limestones
were deposited on shallow inner-marginal shelves.
Core from Badak-103 shows the development of car-
bonate build-ups with shallowing upwards sequences.
Three major facies are identied. The lowest is domi-
nated by argillaceous platy coral rudstoneoatstone
facies, with well-oriented platy corals. Overlying this
facies is an argillaceous branching coral rudstone Fig. 10. Schematic model as a carbonate build-up.
 H. Alam et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17 (1999) 203214 213

Fig. 11. Summary diagenetic model.

oatstone facies (Embry and Klovan, 1971) dominated 6. Reservoir quality

by coral debris, mainly of nger type, algae and minor
echinoderms and bivalves. The upper massive coral Whilst oil and gas shows are common and hydrocar-
rudstone facies is dominated by massive corals with bons have been produced on test from carbonates in
minor branching coral debris. the Kutai Basin, no commercially sustainable pro-
Most of the carbonates were deposited as transgres- duction has been achieved. This is due to the generally
sive highstand sequences. Some channel incision ll, as very poor reservoir quality of the limestones. Porosity
a product of lowstand sedimentation that postdates is generally less than 10% and permeabilities are below
the carbonate, is observed in the G001B limestone 1 md. The best porosity occurs locally within the fore-
(Fig. 9). reef facies packstones and grainstones, but this type
Porosity is poor, ELAN-derived values are generally are often vuggy with low permeability. Back-reef and
less than 5%. However, in one test over a limestone reef-core facies have very poor reservoir qualities.
interval in Badak-47 a DST owed at 0.597 mmscfgpd Fracturing is not widely developed, and so is of limited
and 12.7 bopd. assistance in improving the reservoir quality. Where
present, fractures are generally lled with late calcite
cement. There is little sign of diagenetic enhancement
5. Carbonate model of the porosity of the limestones. Indeed, the diage-
netic model for the area indicates that both primary
The limestones present in the SangaSanga PSC are and secondary porosity have been occluded.
shelfal deposits occurring as either isolated build-ups
or shelf margin and platform deposits. The Lower
Miocene limestones of the Wain Basin and the Buat 7. Diagenesis
Syncline areas were deposited on relatively stable
structural blocks, whilst greater subsidence occurred From petrographic studies and analyses of the lime-
between the blocks. Based on surface mapping, seismic stones encountered in both wells and in surface
sections and cross-section analysis a generic deposi- samples a generic diagenetic model has been developed
tional model has been developed (Fig. 10). In general, (Fig. 11). The diagenetic history started with the for-
three major facies have been identied: reef-core facies, mation of micrite envelopes on some bioclasts, as pro-
which is mainly built up by the growth of massive cor- ducts of boring micro-organisms. The transformation
als and encrusting algae; fore-reef facies generally well- of aragonite to more stable calcite cements indicates
bedded and built up of intercalations of platy coral that early diagenesis was subsequently aected by the
algae rich beds, branching coral algae rich beds and inux of meteoric water. This meteoric water also cre-
coral debris algae rich beds; and back-reef facies, ated local dissolution porosity in some skeletal grains
dominated by mudstones and wackestones with minor and matrix, resulting in vuggy and moldic porosity
coral debris, foraminiferal fragments and algae. types (Saller et al., 1994). Burial compaction has cre-
214 H. Alam et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17 (1999) 203214

ated some micro-fracturing and created stylolitisation, References

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